because they were given special orders and were rerouted. [smile]
I run the trains I want to run.
Gustav:
It's your layout.
Jim:
That's right, it's
my layout and I can
do anything I want.
I'm very happy with it,
and I'm certainly far
enough removed from
the Great Northern
territory that I'm not
afraid of GN rivet-coun-
ters showing up at my
op sessions. [another
smile]
Gustav:
And the era?
Jim:
Oh, that's easy. It's
the early diesel, late
steam transition, circa
1955, so I can run both
types of locos. I enjoy
the steam engines but
the diesel engines run
much better and are
more reliable during
operating sessions.
Gustav:
Do you feel
you have any particu-
lar talents or skills that
predisposed you to
model railroading?
12: Great Northern F7 A&B
363 lead the Eastbound Empire
Builder into Eaton, as the Eaton
SW9 switchers spot an express
reefer at Green Valley Foods.
12
Jim:
Not really. I have an analytical bent of mind, and I'm sure that
helps me troubleshoot problems or figure out some of the more
complex areas of the hobby such as wiring and decoder installa-
tion. In fact, over the years I've acquired more skills frommodel
railroading than anything I've ever done in my life.
There are all the forums on DCC, general modeling, operations,
you name it. I archive most everything I read. [Jim's train room,
where we're conducting this interview, is as much an extensive
library of modeling magazines, books, videos, and DVD's, as it is a
home for his layout.]
Gustav:
What about model railroading appeals to you the most?
Jim:
I really enjoy scenery because it brings the layout to a point
where it makes it real. As I've worked on the layout over the years,
I've gained knowledge and experience. I have learned many ways
to create the illusion of reality.
Upon noticing that the trains parked under the platforms at the
Broadview train station seemed to extend past the station, which
is up against the east wall of the train room, a guest once looked
out the window not realizing that I had used a mirror to make it
appear that the trains go through the wall. That's the ultimate
compliment.
I like to use everyday materials whenever I can. For instance,
most of my trees, and I have hundreds of them on the layout, are
weeds, steeple bush, goldenrod, meadow sweet, stag horn sumac,
ragweed, from the field behind the garage. I use some commercial
trees fromWoodland Scenics and Sterling Trees as highlights in
the foreground.
After I've had my tea, I dry the tea bags, remove the tea leaves,
and use them to make coarse
ground cover. I find that differ-
ent company's tea leaves are
different shades of brown and
Jim Ferguson’s GN - 8
MRH-Oct 2013
